What Steps Should You Take if You Are Injured in a Bike Accident?

Cycling accidents can be especially dangerous because there is little protection on a bike, particularly when it encounters a car. If while on your bike you get into an accident with a car, your injuries can be severe. What you do immediately after the accident can have a big impact on the recovery you get for injuries and property damage. Read the steps below to learn a bit more about what steps you should take after an accident, why it is so important to work with an Atlanta bicycle wreck attorney (such as the experienced Georgia Bike Crash attorneys at Stokes and Kopitsky) and your legal rights in general.

Attend to Your Injuries – Immediately after the accident, pay attention to any possible injuries and make sure you attend to them as soon as possible.

Wait for Law Enforcement – It is vital that you wait for police to arrive at the scene of the accident. They will file an accident report and take down all information. This is vital even if you do not think you are injured. Sometimes minor problems turn into severe injuries, and if you left the scene, you would not have proof of who is at fault. Let the police take down all details. Many drivers may apologize or accept blame only to later deny what was said. Let the police document anything in the police report. Another big benefit of waiting at the scene until the police arrive is that the officer might ticket the driver, which can help with settling your case later.

Make Sure the Police Document Your Version – While the police may take a statement from the motorist, ensure that the police document your side of the story too. Report all of your injuries, no matter how minor. Who knows if any will become critical later. If you cannot get everything you want into the report, look into the possibility of having it amended.

Gather Contact Information – Get the name of the driver, and contact information plus insurance information. If possible, get information from any witnesses too. Do not assume the police report will include this, sometimes it does not. If you are unable to do it yourself due to injury, have a bystander gather the data for you.

Take Notes –Think “Who, what, when, where and why”. Document traffic, road, and weather conditions. Put it on paper or into a notepad on your phone as soon as you can to keep this information at hand for future use.

Seek Medical Attention – No matter how minor, seek immediate medical attention. Seeking care serves as proof of injury and medical records are a document as to how severe your injuries are. Take photographs of injuries as soon as possible.

Preserve Evidence – If possible, don’t move your bike or other damaged property. Do not have your bike fixed until it has been inspected and documented by your Atlanta bike accident attorney. Additionally, hold on to your clothes, helmet, and other equipment. Your attorney may need these items too as he or she helps build your case.

Contact an Experienced Atlanta Bike Collision Attorney – While there are plenty of lawyers out there, and even a number of personal injury attorneys, it is crucial that you choose a law firm that knows the legalities behind working with bicycle collision cases. Consider researching Atlanta bicycle injury attorney or Atlanta bike fatality attorney and find an expert on the subject. This will help you get the best resolution for your case—since it will be in good hands from start to finish. We feel confident that you will find Georgia Bike Crash attorneys Stokes & Kopitsky listed among the best in the business. We understand bike law, and we have worked on numerous cases just like yours. At the end of the day, we want the same thing you do—justice.